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Once you’ve learned the basics, it’s easy to climb on a TRUBLUE Auto Belay. By following these five simple steps, you can get started quickly and keep climbing safely, route after route. Here’s what you need to know to get started.
1. Check for webbing retraction
As you begin to climb, the TRUBLUE Auto Belay will automatically remove the slack from the webbing for you. We call this process "retraction" and there is an extremely simple test that you can do to make sure that the retraction system is working correctly before you start climbing. All you have to do is give the webbing a short, downwards pull and then let go. Right away, you should notice the slack being removed from the webbing, as the belay gate returns to its original position.
2. Unclip the carabiner from the belay gate
While a variety of webbing connectors can be used with a TRUBLUE Auto Belay, the most common connector is the triple-action auto-locking carabiner (seen in the video above). In order to remove this type of carabiner from the belay gate:
- Pull down on the collar
- Twist the collar
- Press inward to open
Once the carabiner has been removed, the belay gate should lay flat on the floor beneath the route, alerting other climbers that there is a climber above them.
3. Clip the carabiner into the belay loop on your harness
Unlike top-roping or lead climbing, when you are climbing on auto belay, you should clip directly into the belay loop of your climbing harness. With a triple-action auto-locking carabiner, all you have to do is position the carabiner around your belay loop and let go of the collar. The carabiner will immediately snap shut and then return to a securely locked position.
4. Double-check that the carabiner is locked
No matter what type of climbing you are doing, it’s always a good idea to double-check your safety systems before leaving the ground. In the case of an auto belay, this means squeezing the carabiner to ensure that it is good and truly locked. While you’re at it, take an extra moment to double-check your harness and any other equipment.
